I got the privilege to watch this team a lot this year, my nephew, who also wrestles, and his team had a historic season: 20-3, district 5, westpac, and somerset county champions as well as a PIAA final 4 appearance. This team was phenomenal and I just wonder what you other guys think of them

I dont think this is a fair comparison by any means. I have been involved in the area soccer community for approximately 15 years now, and the competition level is totally different. This team was very good, no doubt, but not even close to the level of teams of the past. The difference is they were the only decent team in the district and area, where in the past there were many teams on the same level or better. Area sports in general have declined significantly over the past decade or so. But in my opinion, I believe if you were to put a team from 10 years ago up against a team from the present, it wouldnt even be a competition. The past was so much stronger overall that its definitely not a fair comparison.

eaglehockeyx70 wrote:I dont think this is a fair comparison by any means. I have been involved in the area soccer community for approximately 15 years now, and the competition level is totally different. This team was very good, no doubt, but not even close to the level of teams of the past. The difference is they were the only decent team in the district and area, where in the past there were many teams on the same level or better. Area sports in general have declined significantly over the past decade or so. But in my opinion, I believe if you were to put a team from 10 years ago up against a team from the present, it wouldnt even be a competition. The past was so much stronger overall that its definitely not a fair comparison.

There have only been two teams to ever make it past the quarterfinals in the state finals in d5: Bedford last year and this year, and North Star in 2010 and this year. Pretty sure the competition is better now. I played in 99-02 and I was on a good team, this team would smoke mine. No question

Here's how I see the picture for next year: Township: will be good, they have a lot of guys who contributed this year on a team that did pretty good.Rockwood: will be top dogs, they are big, fast and play their style very well. I saw these guys twice when they played NS. They are pretty young and will be seasoned by next year. My favorite to win D5Berlin: saw these guys once, from what my nephew said they are young and should be falling together soon.North Star: no matter what these guys come to play. They are a passionate group of guys. My nephews class was huge an very skilled, losing them will be big. These guys are my dark horse but its a longshot. The holes that were left by Swihura, Steele, louthan and fritch might be too big.Somerset: they are similar to North Star, they will be going through a lot of young inexperience but they will still be good.

Thank you for your post stopper stud an congrats on your run, few people get to say they went that far. I did not play McConnelsburg once in my whole high school career so you did not beat us, I think the closest we ever came was the semi finals the year you guys won and made your run. I totally disagree with the statement that D5 is horrible nowadays, it's actually the best it's ever been. It kills me to say that because I wish we were better but we weren't. Present day D5 has turned out more division 1,2 and 3 players than it ever did combined in the 80s-early 2000s. The coaching is a lot better, guys actually are certified and know what they are doing.

Here's how I think it goes, 2013 NS's best competition would be:1. Your Mc team2. Present day Somerset3. Early 2000s Rockwood 4. Early 2000s Township5. Present day Bedford

Those teams are all just as dynamic and good as this team, but they all have different styles. North Star had and insanely good attack this year, their skilled strikers and technically spunk midfield was able to outpossess anyone, their Achilles heel? Sometimes they were too unselfish and didn't shoot and other times they just weren't athletically gifted enough

Your team, township, and Rockwood all were extremely speedy and athletic, your Achilles heel was once you got out of this area and met some more skilled and better coached teams, you got beat. That's how it was for us.

Present Day Bedford are athletic boys but relied heavily on dump an chase and their speed.

Somerset is very similar to North Star, I personally think North Star was clearly the better team, they outpossessed and outplayed Somerset, but it didn't matter cause Somerset found a way.

All in all this is how I rank those teams, and this is truly the top 5 D5 all time:1. 2013 NS 2. Present day Bedford3. 2001 McConnelsburg4. Present day Somerset5. Early 2000s Rockwood

Let me clarify about district 5 being horrible. District 5 division "A" is horrible. I know Bedford and somerset had pretty decent teams this past season. But I am talking about the "A" division, where most schools only graduate 35-100 kids in a senior class. As far as District 5 "A" turning our multiple division 1,2,and 3 players in the past 3 years i would totally disagree. If you looked at this past years district 5 rankings, the teams from 4th seed and below don't have a single player that would even be considered for Division 3 soccer. NBC had a striker that scored around 30 goals that might make a D3 squad as a walk on (he wasn't anything spectacular) and Windber had a mid/striker that might make a D3 squad as a walk on but i highly doubt either of these kids are getting recruited. I watched Chestnut Ridge play 2 times this past season who was the #1 seed, and although they played well as a team i don't see any of those kids playing D2 soccer. They might have one or two sit the bench on a D3 team at a small community college.

I would add Chestnut Ridge to your top 2 teams for this upcoming season. They are a very young team that didn't lose many seniors. Most of their starting line up were 10-11th graders.

One of the most recent local kids that played D1 soccer was Treavor Gelsinger from greencastle. He didn't play in district 5 but I watched him play a district 5 team in 2006. He got a full ride to PSU and made the big 10 all-freshman team. He had 105 career high school goals and 80 assists.

I hope i'm wrong about these kids not playing in college because I love to follow the few that do make it. If you know of any kids that do get to play some college ball this year from District 5 "A" please post. I think its pretty cool to follow some of these local kids during their college career.

Did this years North Star team play Bedford at all? I had a chance to watch Bedford in an early season scrimmage game and they were a pretty solid team.

StopperStud, wonderful posts. I am so glad that there is somebody I can talk soccer with that has such an open mind and great Knowledge.

For your question about Bedford vs. NS: no they did not play, in fact they were supposed to because North Star had to drop a game but they just couldn't schedule the game.

Your Rankings are spot on, other than Windber. I hel put with my nephews travel team, it has a huge number of guys from Windber and all were seniors. They along with TWP and NS will be very young. I agree with everything else exactly. My predictions to win it all? Rockwood. Athletic, skilled, physical boys. They are a tough group.

Again I agree with you, but only to a certain extent, with the college talent. There was a clear top 5 this year. The top 5 teams were extremely good and loaded with talent. But right after the top 5 it goes downhill very fast. Tomorrow I will post some names of players and their attention or actual signing in terms of collegiate.